Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support other Senators who have concerns about head shops. In the last six to nine months these shops have mushroomed throughout the country. Wherever I go, whether I am out shopping or going for a walk, I am constantly meeting parents of children as young as nine or ten and up to 16, who are worried about their sons and daughters. They may not even be going into the shops but are hanging around outside them while their friends go in trying this and that. As Senator Wilson rightly points out, the products sold in these shops have torn families apart and caused considerable grief and heartache. I do not know whether the issue falls under health or some other area.

One could nearly write the script for tomorrow's Order of Business, because tonight's "Prime Time" will be doing a special on head shops, and I know that every single Senator will come into the House tomorrow morning asking that something be done. RTE is not even advertising the show very well but one can tell from the sound of it how shocking it will be. It is an issue that needs to be dealt with urgently. The motion tabled by Senator Norris is No. 21 on the Order Paper today, to be taken without debate. If that will move things on, I will certainly support it.

Finally, I remind the Leader to make time for an urgent debate, for which many Senators have asked, on domestic abuse.